After an impressive run in the 2025 VALORANT Champions Tour, G2 Esports has officially completed its 2026 VCT Americas roster, doubling down on continuity and strategic consistency ahead of a crucial year for international ambitions.
G2’s decision comes after a stellar 2025 season, where the organisation claimed multiple VCT Americas titles, asserted itself as a regional powerhouse, and delivered one of the most consistent premiership domestic campaigns in Americas VALORANT. Despite lacking an international trophy, G2’s consistent performances — including deep runs at Masters events — have set expectations high for 2026.
Roster Continuity With a Strategic Twist
The core five-man roster that powered G2 through most of the 2025 campaign has been largely retained for VCT Americas 2026, signalling confidence in a group that has repeatedly delivered under pressure:
Confirmed 2026 VCT Americas roster:
- Jacob “valyn” Batio – Captain & IGL
- Trent “trent” Cairns – Initiator expert
- Nathan “leaf” Orf – Duelist veteran
- Alexander “jawgemo” Mor – Flex presence
- Andrej “babybay” Francisty – Duelist & veteran addition
Coaching Staff:
- Josh “JoshRT” Lee – Head Coach
- Peter “shhhack” Belej – Assistant Coach
This continuity underscores a belief that G2’s existing framework — already well-proven domestically — can translate into international success in 2026.
babybay Promotion Ushers in Veteran Firepower
The most notable change to G2’s lineup is the promotion of Andrej “babybay” Francisty to the active roster. A veteran who previously competed with organisations like FAZE Clan and appeared as a substitute earlier in 2025, babybay’s transition from sixth man to full starter brings experienced duel potential and raw firepower to the squad.
Babybay’s chemistry with the existing core was first tested during 2025 when he filled in amidst lineup disruptions, and his results helped convince G2’s management that he belonged in the starting five — a decision confirmed in mid-November 2025.
JonahP Moves to Inactive Roster
Long-time flex player Jonah “JonahP” Pulice has been shifted to the inactive roster, effectively ending an era for a core member who had been with G2 since its climb through the competitive ladder. The move, though surprising to some fans given JonahP’s experience and tenure, reflects a calculated plan to streamline the starting unit around the organisation’s latest strategic blueprint.
Head coach Josh “JoshRT” Lee has publicly framed this change not as a crisis but as a forward-looking adjustment, emphasising that G2’s current construction gives the team the best shot at breaking through at international events in 2026.
Why This Matters: From Regional Dominance to International Expectations
G2’s 2025 performance established them as regular representatives from the Americas at high-profile VCT events, including Masters Bangkok and Masters Toronto, where they displayed elite-level gameplay but ultimately fell short of a global title.
With Riot Games’ 2026 VCT calendar already shaping up — including Masters Santiago and later international opportunities — maintaining roster stability is a clear strategic bet from G2’s leadership that continuity will yield the breakthrough performance fans and sponsors alike crave.
The Broader VALORANT Roster Landscape
Across VCT Americas, several teams have either finalised or refreshed their projects as the off-season continues. While some organisations pursue partial rebuilds, G2’s approach leans hard into steady evolution rather than wholesale overhaul, a philosophy increasingly common among top performing teams in the VALORANT ecosystem.
As the countdown to 2026 VCT Americas’ January kickoff begins, all eyes will be on G2 to see if this mix of high-performance continuity and veteran injection can finally propel them to global glory.